Independent futures brokerage firm R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO) has promoted Terry Gilhooly to global chief operating officer and Heather Rucci to chief human resources officer.
Gilhooly has been serving as the company’s North America COO since May 2019 while Rucci has held the role of managing director of human resources since April 2019.
“I'm delighted to recognize the outstanding contributions of Terry and Heather, who have both demonstrated extraordinary capabilities and sage counsel in their areas of expertise,” RJO Chairman and CEO Gerald Corcoran said in a press release.
Gilhooly has worked in the futures industry for 30 years and has previously held positions at the Royal Bank of Scotland Americas, State Street and Merrill Lynch.
“RJO has been the beneficiary of Terry's skills and extensive experience in the futures industry – including in key roles at major banks – along with his calm, cool and collected approach,” Corcoran said. “Now he will assume responsibility for our entire global operations and technology teams and infrastructure.”
Rucci has more than two decades of experience in human resources, and was senior managing director and HR business partner at Nuveen before joining RJO.
“Heather is truly a talented executive who ensures that we achieve our strategic goals from a human resources perspective and successfully navigate the people challenges presented by global expansion, acquisitions and most recently the coronavirus pandemic,” Corcoran said. “She's been a tremendous resource to the organization, integrating and aligning our efforts around the world.”
Both Gilhooly and Rucci led the firm's COVID-19 Response Task Force, according the press release.
Gilhooly holds a bachelor's degree and a master of business administration from Indiana University Northwest. Rucci earned a bachelor's degree in industrial management/engineering from Purdue University.
Gilhooly and Rucci’s promotions come just a month after Daniel Staniford was promoted to president.
Founded in 1914, Chicago-based R.J. O'Brien & Associates is the largest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States. It serves more than 80,000 institutional, commercial and individual clients globally, in addition to a network of approximately 300 introducing brokers.